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Singapore sprint qualifying chaos leaves F1 teams furious as Aston Martin considers protest

A race control error that left cars down on power in sprint qualifying at F1's Singapore GP has left several teams frustrated, with Aston Martin still considering its options.The first segment of sprint qualifying at the Singapore Marina Bay circuit…

Published: Friday, 9 October 2026 at 3:31 PM
Singapore sprint qualifying chaos leaves F1 teams furious as Aston Martin considers protest
Key Things to Know
  • An FIA race control human error left F1 cars without overtake mode during Singapore Grand Prix sprint qualifying.
  • The power failure severely affected SQ1, resulting in early eliminations for Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, and Williams.
  • Stewards rejected a request from Williams to allow all 22 cars into SQ2 following the glitch.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Formula 1 teams were left frustrated after an FIA race control error during Singapore Grand Prix sprint qualifying accidentally left cars down on power. Following a red flag to clear debris from Sergio Perez's car, overtake mode was not reactivated for SQ1, leaving drivers without their usual electrical boost. Race control briefly enabled the mode for 27 seconds before turning it off again, disrupting lap times and eliminating several drivers, including Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, and both Williams cars.

Stewards denied a request from Williams to let all 22 cars enter SQ2, and a re-run of SQ1 was impossible due to limited tires. The FIA subsequently issued an apology acknowledging the human error. While Williams and Racing Bulls decided against formally protesting the results, Aston Martin indicated it was keeping its options open.

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